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Book Review: Ten Bodies, Two Bikes and a Boil, by Chris Gooderham

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This book is described as "a dark comedy based on the true story of one man's quest for immortality. Matthew Moore has received the worst news of his life - he only has one year to live, and he wants to do something he can finally be proud of. Ten Bodies, Two Bikes and a Boil follows the diary of one man as he cycles the length of the country, from Lands End to John O'Groats, dragging his father-in-law, his Bike Buddy, with him."

Our UK TE'rs are probably appalled that I was initially clueless where Lands End and John O'Groats are, but I figured out pretty quickly that the journal describes a bike tour through the UK. There are route maps in the back that are (according to the author) guaranteed to get you lost.

The author has described this book as 90% real and 10% embellishment. The descriptions of the three-week bike tour are too realistic not to be based on an actual tour, which Chris did take a few years ago. The event that precipitates the trip, and some of the other events along the way, can only be fictional (or if real, existed in a context other than this bike tour). Chris weaves the embellishments and the reality together in a totally hilarious way. I was absolutely in stitches as I read this account. Heat, rain, dogs, bugs, flat tires, breathtaking views, unplanned detours, a sense of accomplishment -- all the components of a good bike tour are described with a dry wit that will have you rolling. In addition, the story describes some actions we've probably all dreamed of taking (no, I'm not going to give it away in this review!).